Zelensky met Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Lublin on Wednesday, following weeks of heightened friction over historical memory, bilateral political disputes and the treatment of Ukrainians in Poland.
Their talks covered defense cooperation, historical grievances and the security of Ukrainian refugees, but the broader message was unmistakable: Poland and Ukraine cannot afford to let disputes over the past weaken their ability to confront the Russian threat they face today.
For Fried, who served as US ambassador to Poland from 1997 to 2000 and later as assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs, the meeting marked an important shift back toward strategic realism.
“It was an excellent step,” Fried said. “This was a first-rate, wise move by President Zelensky, and I suspect that there have been productive contacts between Poles and Ukrainians.”